MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Myrtle Beach City council held a virtual meeting on Thursday, where they voted to reopen accommodations to existing reservations on May 1.
While existing reservations will be honored, new reservations can only be made after May 15. Pools, spas and dine-in service remain closed at resorts and hotels per state order. Public beach accesses and parking are open.
Council also voted to enact restrictions on elevator occupancy as well as bellman and valet services.
- Read the full order here.
- For a list of what is open in the Myrtle Beach area, click here.
- For guidelines on reopening accommodations from a Myrtle Beach task force, click here.
Council voted for the order as follows:
- Councilmember Jackie Hatley: no
- Councilmember Michael Chestnut: yes
- Councilmember John Krajc: yes
- Councilmember Clyde H. “Mike” Lowder: no
- Councilmember Philip N. Render: yes
- Councilmember Gregg Smith: yes
- Mayor Brenda Bethune: yes
Mayor Bethune did express concern over the openings saying she didn’t think it was the right choice, but they legally couldn’t keep hotels closed longer.
She said she worries about the inadequate number of tests available here, the food supply chain, having no control over occupancy rates and the potential for people to travel here from hot spots despite Governor Henry McMasters orders.
“Our emergency order expires tomorrow, and if we do not pass this resolution, out hotels will be allowed to open with no restrictions in place and no safety guidelines and that is not good for our community, not good for our residents, its not good for hotel staff, or for the visitors who come here,” Bethune said.
Council also approved a coronavirus recovery task force for the city, which will be appointed on May 12. This will include: a medical provider representative, City Fire Chief, City Police Chief, hotel owner or manager, restaurant owner or manager, the director of the Convention Center, retail business manager or owner, an owner or manger of an amusement or attraction, a small business owner or manager and three Myrtle Beach residents; one from the North end, one from the South end and another from the center of the City.
Count on News13 for updates.
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Myrtle Beach City Council is set to continue discussion on reopening accommodations businesses Thursday.
Council is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting at 10 a.m. This meeting will be streamed on the city government’s Facebook page, Spectrum channel and HTC cable channel.
News13 will also stream the meeting on this page.
On Tuesday, council discussed an emergency order set to expire Thursday, April 30 “restricting short-term rentals for all accommodations businesses in the City of Myrtle Beach during the Covid-19 health crisis.”
Council proposed amending the order, creating a timetable and targets for occupancy for accommodations businesses, the creation of a city coronavirus recovery task force and creating sanitation and hygiene measures.
A vote was postponed after council member Clyde H. “Mike” Lowder requested several modifications to these proposals, including asking hoteliers for input, having penalties for non compliance and asking hoteliers to honor reservations made for or after May 1.
Count on News13 for updates.
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